Queensland Country Health Insurance offers some discounts for young people on its bronze plus and silver plus policies. But keep in mind this fund doesn't offer a gold-level or equivalent hospital policy.
The Queensland Country Health Fund has operated since 1977, serves almost 60,000 members, and is primarily located in rural and regional Queensland but it offers healthcare nationwide at recognised hospitals.
Pros
A strong option for regional-based people who may have to travel long distances for healthcare - $50/night accommodation allowance on hospital covers and concessional rates on furnished apartments near hospitals in Townsville and Brisbane.
Decent for families with children – children are automatically included on their parent's policy until the age of 21 at no extra cost, and in some situations can be covered until 25.
Cons
Beware if you're looking for the highest-tier health-care. Queensland Country Health Fund does not offer a gold-level or equivalent hospital policy.
What types of health insurance does Queensland Country offer?
Vital Hospital (Bronze+). Designed for people who are young and healthy, this covers many more common standard hospital procedures. Has a flexible excess between $250 - $750 and allows you to choose your own doctor and hospital. Includes one emergency ambulance ride per year and a $50/night accommodation benefit if you have to travel more than 300 kilometres round-trip for treatment.
Better Hospital (Silver+). Provides everything that Vital Hospital does as well as other treatments like insulin pumps, hearing aids, and more. Also offers a $1,000 a year nursing service benefit and a hospital boarder cover for people who may have to stay at the hospital for the wellbeing of the patient. High benefits for mechanical aids and appliances, plus a flexible excess of $250 or $500.
Extras coverage
Extras
Young and Select extras can be purchased separately or combined with Hospital cover, but Essential and Premium extras must be combined with one of the two Hospital plans above.
Young extras. Suitable for young, healthy individuals. Offers basic dental cover, as well as optical, chiropractic, some natural therapies, osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, healthy living benefits and pharmaceuticals.
Select extras. This plan has higher yearly limits on the services included in Young extras, but excludes osteopathy, dietitian, acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Essential extras. Covers a wider range of dental services compared to Young extras, but includes cover for audiology, orthoptic and occupational therapy, foot orthoses, exercise physiology, psychology and speech therapy. Also provides benefits for childbirth education and school accidents.
Premium extras. Queensland Country's most extensive extras policy. Identical to Essential extras, but with higher yearly limits on what you can claim for each service.
Ambulance coverage
You're covered for one emergency ambulance transport service or one on-the-spot emergency treatment per person per year. Cover is available Australia-wide. Queensland following providers are recognised by us:
ACT Ambulance Service
Ambulance Service of NSW
Ambulance Victoria
Queensland Ambulance Service
South Australia Ambulance Service
St John Ambulance Service NT
St John Ambulance Service WA
Tasmanian Ambulance Service
Queensland Country frequently asked questions
Usually, when making a claim, all you need to do is swipe your membership card to have your claim processed on the spot.
You can also make easy claims by uploading receipts via their mobile claims app, email in a claims form with the appropriate documents, or do it face-to-face at one of their retail centres or Queensland Country Credit Union branch. Finally, you can claim up to $400 in benefits per day online using their online portal.
In addition to the benefits you receive for taking out a hospital and/or extras plan, Queensland Country health fund provides the following to members:
Living Healthy magazine. Members get automatic access to the Living Healthy magazine, which useful details about their cover, health tips, events and offers.
Home away from home. Since it's often necessary for those in regional Queensland to travel to towns like Townsville and Brisbane for treatment, Queensland Country Health Fund offers concessional rates on two-bedroom apartments near hospitals in those towns after two months as a member.
Care navigation. If you have Better Hospital (Silver+) cover, you may, based on an interview with Queensland Country Health Fund's Care Navigation team, be offered short-term program or ongoing support and education over the phone.
Loyalty rewards. If you hold either Essential or Premium extras plans for a year, you get increased claim limits for dental services (not orthodontics) and a full range of therapies by $50 a year for five years, persisting for the life of your policy.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
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I’m on the pension and need my Varicose Veins removed from my right leg, do I qualify and which cover do I opt for? I live in Cooroibah does that qualify as regional? Please advise asap as I’m needing to book an appointment soon.
Kind regards,
Finder
RichardOctober 19, 2016Finder
Hi Julie,
Thanks for getting in touch. Finder is a comparison service and not Queensland Country Health Fund. You will need to contact Queensland Country Health.
All the best,
Richard
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I’m on the pension and need my Varicose Veins removed from my right leg, do I qualify and which cover do I opt for? I live in Cooroibah does that qualify as regional? Please advise asap as I’m needing to book an appointment soon.
Kind regards,
Hi Julie,
Thanks for getting in touch. Finder is a comparison service and not Queensland Country Health Fund. You will need to contact Queensland Country Health.
All the best,
Richard